Theresa May has a "general prejudice" against Chinese investment, says Vince Cable after Hinkley Point decision is delayed

I am City A.M.'s chief City reporter, mainly covering banks, Brexit, M&A and deals. I also cover media stories and enjoy interviewing big figures from the business world. I previously worked for Press Gazette and Mail Online.

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Lib Dem Sir Vince Cable was business secretary in the coalition government (Source: Getty)

William Turvill

The new prime minister has a “general prejudice” against Chinese investment into the UK, Sir Vince Cable has claimed.

The former Liberal Democrat business secretary, who worked with new PM Theresa May in government when she was home secretary, also revealed she had “raised objection” to the Hinkley Point project, which is backed Chinese investment.

Hinkley Point C is expected to generate enough electricity to meet seven per cent of the UK’s needs, powering about 5.8m homes. It is due to be built by EDF and part funded by China Nuclear Power Generation.

On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Cable suggested the government was right to delay the decision. But he also claimed May has not always appeared supportive of the project.

“Certainly when we were in government Theresa May was quite clear she was unhappy about the rather gung-ho approach to Chinese investment that we had and that George Osborne in particular was promoting, and, as I recall, raised objections to Hinkley at that time,” he said.